Book
Before Elvis : the African American musicians who made the King / Preston Lauterbach.
"After Baz Luhrmann’s movie, Elvis, hit theaters, audiences and critics alike couldn’t help but question the Black origins of Elvis Presley’s music and style, reigniting a debate that has been circling for decades. In Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King, author Preston Lauterbach answers these questions definitively, based on new research and extensive, previously unpublished interviews with the artists who blazed the way and the people who knew them. Within these pages, Lauterbach examines the lives, music, legacies, and interactions with Elvis Presley of the four innovative Black artists who created a style that would come to be known as Rock ’n’ Roll: Little Junior Parker, Big Mama Thornton, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, and mostly-unknown eccentric Beale Street guitarist Calvin Newborn. Along the way, he delves into the injustices of copyright theft and media segregation that resulted in Black artists living in poverty as white performers, managers, and producers reaped the lucrative rewards. In the wake of continuing conversations about American music and appropriation, Before Elvis is indispensable." -- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780306833083
- ISBN: 0306833085
- Physical Description: xiii, 299 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, 2025.
- Copyright: ©2025
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index (pages 285-299). |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Introduction: Am I? Am I? -- Part One: Before Elvis. Electric minstrelsy -- 'That's all right' -- 'Lord I've tried' -- You told me you was high class -- Train I ride, sixteen coaches long -- Thus chuckled Nat D. -- Omnifarious music -- The flamingo room -- Part Two: After Elvis. Franktown blues -- Just for kicks -- Shine my shoes and buy my records -- Next time you see me -- The jazz mountaintop -- Long live the queen -- Ball and chain -- And naked I shall leave it -- Funny how time slips away -- Keep it short and make 'em smile -- Beyond time -- I love you, maddly! -- A voice from God. |
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Biographies. Informational works. Illustrated works. |
Available copies
- 5 of 12 copies available at Missouri Evergreen. (Show)
- 2 of 3 copies available at Jefferson County.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 12 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Library-Arnold | 781.64 LAUTERBA (Text) | 30061100384946 | New Books | Checked out | 04/03/2025 |
| Jefferson County Library-Northwest | 781.64 LAUTERBA (Text) | 30051100384954 | New Books | Available | - |
| Jefferson County Library-Windsor | 781.64 LAUTERBA (Text) | 30065100384962 | New Books | Available | - |
